Police are moving to seize property, cars and cash worth $8.6 million from a couple associated with corruption at Auckland Transport.
Stephen Borlase, a former director of Projenz, which undertook contract work for Auckland Transport, was jailed earlier this year, along with Murray John Noone, a former director of transportation at the Rodney District Council and later an AT employee.
Auckland Transport later revealed six other staff left their jobs after investigations into the corruption began.
Police have not named who they are targeting, but said they launched civil proceedings under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act and were looking for restraining orders against a 53-year-old man and his wife “for his criminal activities relating to bribery and corruption.”
Court records show that Borlase is due to appear in the Auckland High Court on the same day the civil proceedings are scheduled to come before the court: October 11.
Police are chasing property including real estate in Mt Eden, a commercial property and a beach house in the Coromandel, motor vehicles including a 2015 Mercedes, Jeep Cherokee and a classic Ford Fairlane and cash in bank accounts.
Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Allan said police investigated and aimed to remove unlawful benefits from those who engage in significant criminal activity.
“This investigation is another great example of the joint Government approach in relation to proceeds of crime with the New Zealand Police, Serious Fraud Office and Auckland Transport working closely together.
“It also highlights how effective the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act can be applied not only to drugs, cash and firearms instances, but top end financial crime that also negatively impacts on our community and New Zealand’s financial reputation.”
It follows a successful Serious Fraud Office prosecution of several people associated with AT – the country’s largest bribery case.
The Serious Fraud Office warned at the time the case had not been completely closed and corruption required a toxic culture to grow.
Borlase and Noone stood trial over eight weeks last year, after pleading not guilty to bribery and corruption charges brought against them by the Serious Fraud Office.
Borlase was found guilty of eight charges of corruption or bribery of an official but not guilty of four charges of obtaining a document for pecuniary advantage.
Noone was found guilty of six charges of corruption or bribery of an official.
The offending took place between 2006 and 2013 relating to roading project consultation contracts Projenz carried out for RDC and AT.
At their sentencing in February, Crown prosecutor Brian Dickey said the offending was on the upper end of the scale and had affected a large number of people.
It had also possibly affected New Zealand’s international reputation as a relatively corruption-free country.
“This type of offending isn’t shoplifting … it’s offending that goes to the heart of New Zealand’s public service and New Zealand’s international reputation,” Dickey said.